National Electrical Safety Month unites utilities and electricians in promoting best practices

May has been dubbed National Electrical Safety Month by electric providers throughout the United States, and while COVID-19 has more people spending time isolated at home, various companies and groups are reminding customers that safety remains vital.

The effort is spearheaded by the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) to help reduce electrically-related damage, injuries, and fatalities in communities through greater education. ESFI has been joined in this case by the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC), with this year’s focus on keeping a smart home. This includes a focus on all the devices that keep homes smart, safe, and secure.

The ESFI reports that around 51,000 total fires and more than 500 deaths result from home electrical fires every year. Prevention can sometimes be as simple as having smoke detectors — something 65 percent of deaths caused by at-home fires lacked.

“We all know the sound–the dreaded chirping of batteries dying in the smoke detector,” PSEG Long Island wrote. “Tomorrow,” we say to ourselves, disabling the device or muffling the sound through music or fans. “Tomorrow” is often too late.”

Black Hills Energy-South Dakota is another one of many companies, like PSEG, providing indoor and outdoor electrical safety tips this month. These include things like checking all electrical cords, keeping appliances away from bathtubs and other dampness, using ground fault circuit interrupters to help prevent shocks and fires, avoiding downed power lines, calling 811 before digging and not wandering near electric substations and transformers.

“Many electric hazards can be prevented by understanding basic electrical safety practices and taking simple precautions,” Marc Eyre, vice president of operations at Black Hills Energy-South Dakota, said. “While electrical safety should be a year-round priority, National Electrical Safety Month is a great opportunity to enforce critical safety measures to help prevent electrical hazards and related injuries.”